Thank you for your interest in my campaign for State Representative. There are many important problems facing our communities. I can’t address them all here, but I hope my positions on the following issues will give you an idea of my values.
State Aid and Education:
Education is the key to a prosperous future for our children. Yet, on a percentage basis, Massachusetts spends less on local public K-12 education than all but a handful states. This diminishes the quality of our schools and puts pressure on our property taxes. I will work to increase state aid for education and ensure that our communities get their fair share of the state’s resources.
Southeastern Massachusetts, particularly Fall River and New Bedford, has among the lowest college attendance rates in the Commonwealth. Yet Bristol Community College receives less funding than any other community college in the state. Without a well-educated workforce, we cannot hope to attract new businesses and good jobs to the region.
All too often, tax breaks intended to attract new business, turn into giveaways when the companies fail to deliver promised benefits. Tax incentives must include guaranteed benefits for our community. For example: We must require that any construction jobs go to local people at the prevailing wage and that a specific number of new permanent jobs be created for local people. If these requirements are not met, we should require that any tax savings be returned.
LNG Terminal in Fall River:
Liquefied natural gas terminals should not be located in densely populated areas. The impact of an accident or terrorist attack would be devastating. I support legislation that would prevent LNG tankers from passing within 5,000 feet of shore, effectively banning LNG shipments through Narragansett and Mt. Hope bays.
Healthcare
All citizens have the right to decent, affordable healthcare. Although the healthcare reforms that will go into affect next year are a good first step – providing relief for the self-employed, small businesses, recent college graduates, and lower income workers - many of the details have yet to be worked out. I will fight to ensure that any new health insurance programs are affordable and of high quality. Many large, profitable companies do not offer affordable healthcare to their low-wage workers. This costs taxpayers millions. Last year we spent nearly $8 million on healthcare for uninsured Wal-Mart employees. Companies like Wal-Mart should be required to pay their fair share.
Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes
Closing unfair corporate tax loopholes will help us bring more money to our communities for education and services without raising our property taxes. Just one example: Utility poles, lines, and equipment owned by electric companies are taxed, but those owned by phone companies are not. This one loophole costs us $140 million a year statewide.
Hope I can count on your vote in the in general election on November 7th.
Sincerely,
Steve